title: Effect of mode of delivery on postpartum depression in Iranian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the relation between mode of delivery (cesarean section [CS] or unassisted vaginal delivery) and postpartum depression (PPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 300 women who had experienced vaginal delivery (VD) or CS were recruited in Kashan, Iran. PPD was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A score of 13 or more was defined as PPD. Data collection was conducted at two assessment points: 2 months and 4 months postpartum. Mean scores of EPDS and PPD were compared between the VD and CS groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in mean scores of EPDS between CS (n = 150) and VD (n = 150) groups at the first and the second assessments were not significant. The depression mean scores differences from the first to the second assessment were compared between the two groups; VD group showed more decrease on EPDS score (P = 0.006). Comparing the two assessments, the VD group showed a more decreased EPDS from the first to the second one. PPD prevalence rates (score ≥ 13) among the VD and CS groups were 24% and 20.7% for the first and 14.7% and 16.7% for the second assessment, respectively, which were not significantly different. The logistic regression showed that an unwanted pregnancy and PPD 2 months after delivery were determinants for PPD 4 months after delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no relation between delivery mode and PPD at 2 and 4 months after delivery; however, the VD group showed greater decrease in EPDS score from 2 to 4 months after delivery.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Nursing Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sadat
authors.forename: Mahboobeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kafaei Atrian
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masoudi Alavi
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbaszadeh
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karimian
authors.forename: Aliacbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taherian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cesarean section; delivery; depression; mothers; postpartum; psychology